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Few football matches in history have left such a deep mark on a nation’s collective memory.

When Brazil faced Germany at home in the semi-final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the entire country was eager to see their team reach the final. Instead, they witnessed one of the most astonishing knockout games in World Cup history.

Before even 30 minutes had passed, Germany had already netted their fifth goal, eventually cruising to a 7-1 victory. It was Brazil’s heaviest defeat in 94 years, a result that stunned the world.

Former Real Madrid defender Marcelo, who played at left-back that night in Belo Horizonte, has described the experience as one of the lowest moments of his football career.

“It was a horrible feeling, the worst I’ve ever had in my entire career,” Marcelo told FourFourTwo. “To lose in that manner was a disgrace.”

The 2014 tournament marked Brazil’s first time hosting the World Cup since 1950, when they famously lost to Uruguay in the deciding match despite being the favourites. Once again, the campaign ended in heartbreak and humiliation.

“Playing a World Cup in your own country, representing your national colours, surrounded by your people, and then losing 7-1 was indescribably painful,” Marcelo recalled.

He continued, “It was madness – nobody could believe what had happened. The fans were devastated, but we in the dressing room were equally broken.”

“But I managed to come back from that. I told myself I didn’t want to live with that bitter taste forever. Sometimes defeat serves as motivation to improve.”

“From that night against Germany, I became stronger. Maybe if we had gone on to win the World Cup, I might have thought, ‘That’s enough,’ and retired from football.”

“Fortunately, I never lost my desire to keep going.”

Marcelo continued to represent Brazil for another four years, earning a total of 58 caps, though he never managed to win a major international title with the national team.

Since that defeat, Brazil have not progressed beyond the quarter-final stage of the World Cup, as they prepare for this summer’s edition in North America.